Dear Doctor: Our 76-year-old mom is nervous about getting the special Fluzone shot for older people because a neighbor told her it will make her sick. Is that true? What makes flu shots so important?... more

Dear Doctor: I am an 82-year-old woman. When I was in my teens, I did some sleepwalking. A recent occurrence during the night is making me wonder if I have sleepwalked again. What are some of the thin... more

Dear Doctor: It’s our turn to host our extended family for the holidays. That means my husband and I will have adults, toddlers, teens, babies and a few senior citizens here at the house for at least ... more

Hello dear readers and welcome to the it’s-almost-winter edition of our monthly letters column. The weather has changed, and so have your concerns, moving from the ticks and mosquitoes of summer, to c... more

Dear Doctor: My wife does calligraphy, but she’s having trouble because her hands have started shaking. She’s worried it’s Parkinson’s disease. What else could be the cause?... more

Dear Doctor: Our son’s work as an engineer is taking him to Kampala, Uganda. He’s had to get all sorts of vaccinations, but his mother is concerned that Ebola wasn’t on the list. Is there a vaccine ye... more

Dear Doctor: Can you talk about FTD dementia, especially the type that affects behavior? I am sure that a close acquaintance has it, although she is clear-minded. Her symptoms involve increasingly str... more

Dear Doctor: Why do the elderly often have a hard time swallowing, and sometimes experience a feeling that food is stuck in their throats? I heard there’s a procedure to stretch the throat. Does it he... more

Dear Doctor: I have Morton's neuroma in both feet, and my podiatrist has recommended surgery. I really don’t want to have surgery, so I am desperately looking for another remedy. I read about a drug t... more

Dear Doctor: Our dad’s left eye and the side of his face started to droop suddenly, and it seemed like he’d had a stroke. The doctor says it’s actually Bell’s palsy. What is that?... more

Dear Doctor: What's with all the ads for brain-enhancing products? Prevagen is one that claims it’s been clinically proven to help, but my family doctor says that it hasn’t. Who’s right? Do these prod... more

Dear Doctor: I just turned 55 and have noticed that I get winded faster these days when I go running. Does getting older affect how much air your lungs can hold? Is there any way to increase it?... more

Dear Doctor: My husband has had very bad breath for several months, and lately he says he has a metallic taste in his mouth. Can you tell us what might be the cause?... more

Dear Doctor: Our godson has cystic fibrosis, and seeing him struggle these past eight years has been hard. Is the new drug Trikafta we’ve been reading about really as good as people are saying?... more

Dear Doctor: I’m a 66-year-old man whose right knee really hurts from arthritis. My sister keeps talking about something called prolotherapy. What is it, and can it help?... more

Hello, dear readers, and welcome back to our monthly letters column. We’re happy to report that you’ve been busy correspondents, so onward to your letters.... more

Dear Doctor: How long should a bruise last? I broke my fibula nearly nine months ago, but I still have a yellowish discoloration on my shin, above the fracture. What could it be? My doctor is unconcer... more

Dear Doctor: My sisters and I want our dad to quit smoking, but he says that he’s tried before and just can’t do it. Should he try hypnosis? Does it work?... more

Dear Doctor: I heard that eating some wasabi gave a woman a heart attack. I love sushi and have it a few times a week, and I do use wasabi. Do I have to stop?... more

Dear Doctor: I’ve been eating a vegan diet for about a year. My mom says she read that vegans don’t get enough choline, and that’s dangerous. Is this true? What is choline, and where does it come from... more

Dear Doctor: One of the moms in our car pool had to drop out because she has a frozen shoulder. I’ve never heard of that. What is it, and how did she get it?... more

Dear Doctor: Is wildfire smoke really that dangerous? We’re in northern Idaho and our town has been handing out face masks, but I’ve heard they don’t really do much. What should I do to keep our famil... more

Dear Readers: This week we wanted to discuss some important updates on several topics you’ve asked about recently, including the poliolike illness called acute flaccid myelitis, the potentially deadly... more

Dear Doctor: I prefer to breathe through my mouth at all times. This is due to fairly constant nasal congestion. Am I getting the same amount of oxygen as breathing through my nose?... more

Dear Doctor: I heard about a guy who tested as drunk but hadn’t had any alcohol. Is that really even possible, or is it some kind of urban legend?... more

Dear Doctor: My boyfriend let a friend of his pierce his earlobe and cartilage, and both places got infected. He says things will get better on their own, but I’m worried. What should he be doing?... more

Dear Doctor: My husband has fallen into a strange sleep pattern. Some nights he’s awake until 3 a.m., tosses and turns all night, then wakes up tired. I’ve read that strange sleep cycles may be linked... more

Dear Doctor: Several studies have shown a correlation between marijuana use and low birth weight, and I understand that marijuana today has been cultivated to be much stronger than what was used in ea... more